Not coal seam gas but renewable energy

Photo: Kate Ausburn

The Socialist Alliance adopted a coal seam gas policy at its June 26 National Council meeting. The policy appears below.

* * *

The gas industry is rapidly increasing its scope in the Australian energy market. Gas is talked up by some as a clean energy source, or as a “transition fuel”, while we develop renewable energies. But gas is a fossil fuel. Burning it creates carbon emissions.

For a safe climate, we need to cut net emissions almost totally within the next decade. In fact, we then have to move below zero net emissions: to draw down more carbon than we produce.

The single biggest contribution to a safe climate future in Australia will come through making the switch to 100% renewables*, with stationary energy currently responsible for 51% of our total emissions.

Australia's approach to stationary energy must acknowledge the science and use society’s resources to give us a chance at a safe climate future. This means no new gas.

Particular concerns with mining coal seams for gas — that require policy to address existing projects — include possible water, air and environmental contamination with toxic and radioactive compounds, salt and heavy metals; damage to aquifers and groundwater systems; gas explosions and flammability; the sizeable footprint of gas fields and the networks of wellheads, pipelines and roads that fragment the environment; fugitive emissions and truck movements.



Coal seam gas mining has also been linked to increased rates of cancer, kidney, heart, lung and neurological problems, asthma, eye irritation, endocrine disruption and headaches.

Socialist Alliance campaigns for:

• A public inquiry into the health, safety and environmental impacts of coal seam gas mining.

• A moratorium on all coal seam gas mining until outcome of inquiry.

• A ban on all coal seam gas mining under cities; water catchment, supply and storage areas; farmland; and other environmentally significant areas.

• A ban on hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”).

• No new coal seam gas mines or power plants; and invest in renewables. Investment in energy must be limited to technologies that can move us to a zero emissions economy, not commit us to other carbon polluting technologies.

* The Zero Carbon Australia 2020 (ZCA2020) Stationary Energy Plan shows that Australia could meet all its energy needs from 100% renewables within 10 years, using technology that is commercially available today. It is the product of collaboration between the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute and Beyond Zero Emissions.

Comments

Anyone who feels like singing about it, try these. I hope you'll recognise the tunes. They'll soon be posted on ecocentrix.com.au
Cheers
Jenny Fitzgibbon

These Gates are made for Locking Jenny Fitz 2011
(These boots are made for walking)

You keep saying you’ve got something for me.
something you call safe, but confess.
Gas’ been leakin’ where it shouldn’t be leakin’
and your fracking poison I don’t call progress.

These Gates are made for Lockin’,
and that’s just what they’ll do
all over this State these gates
are gonna lock in front of you.

You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin’
and you keep losin’ when you oughta not bet.
You been gamblin’ with our Great Artesian
Now what’s right is right, but you ain’t been right yet.

You keep frackin’ where you shouldn’t be frackin’
And you keep thinkin’ that you´ll never get burnt.
Ha!
But I saw a kitchen tap lit up with matches yeah
and you corporations, now’s your time to learn.

Are you ready Gates? Start lockin’!

……………………………………………………………………………

Lock the Gate to this Land Jenny Fitzgibbon 2011
Tune – My Baby (don’t stand no cheatin’) – Ike and Tina Turner

The water – belongs to the nation on this land
The water – belongs to the nation on this land
The water – belongs to the nation
For feeding each future generation on this land
Lock the Gate to this Land

They’ll see – that we’re not teasin’ on this land
We’re here to protect the Great Artesian on this land
Lock the Gate to this Land

Haliburton can’t use their solution on this land
If the price of gas includes pollution on this land
Lock the Gate to this Land

There’ll be no fracking poison on this land
That’s why we’re gathering the girls and boys in, on this land
Lock the Gate to this Land

Profits to be made by the million on this land
Leaving a clean-up bill of a billion on this land
Lock the Gate to this Land

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